R57 relay

Talking to you is like talking to an ADD brick.

The point is that LAS didn't close because of the merger, it closed because of economic factors that were coming merger or not. It was the fate the west pilots were looking at and the merger put them in a better place. It would have been a much better place if Nicolau hadn't screwed it up.

You guys have this dream vision of AWA as this powerful company that would have kept on having 7 year captain upgrades. You wouldn't have, that is as clear as day to anyone that is willing to look at it. It makes all the premises that the Nic was built on false.

Did you see this quote from Wilson?

"As a model for seniority integration, Wilson said he looks to the Delta/Northwest integration.

In that case, he said, the list “was developed in such a way that ten years down the road it will be fair and equitable.” He noted that pilots’ career expectations were generally met. Now, he said, “Delta is running on all cylinders. That is what we want to do.”

The Nicolau award certainly didn't do that. I think even you can agree with me on that as you constant refrain was that it was based on 2005.

I am grateful to Lakefield, Parker, the merger and all that was given up by east pilots to make this thing happen. I don't see that the west pilots did much of anything. I guess you gave up a little scope, I can't really remember, but what I do remember is the constant whine to Parker "Why did you do this Doug!?" Most west pilots didn't want the merger, and wouldn't have done it if they had a choice.

I've taken NOTHING from a west pilot. I regained my captain seat, in my base, on the aircraft I brought to the merger. Unlike you, I got it back on seniority, as we don't have reinstatement rights.

GW258

That's strange, you said AWA saved US Airways.

I will take it with the usual grain of salt required when you post anything.

Look at what not getting the abortion called the NIC has done to you.

You are not a victim. Look at where the US Airways asset has brought you.

You are now part of the biggest airline out there. You are part of something that would never have happened without U.

That windfall you can't have is driving you nuts.

You are one lucky pilot.

cactus320

The events that led to the LAS closure happened in 2008 with the run up in oil. Don't forget it was also the final nail in the coffin for PIT, LGA, and BOS. We focused on our four main hubs and stopped all hub flying.

Nicolau used the fleet in 2007 as his basis. He couldn't look into the future and he actually never assumed US Airways was going to liquidate, which it almost certainly was regardless of what you think.

AWA was growing at 10% up until the merger. If US Airways had liquidated, which was the expectation, who knows what Parker would have done with AWA. Maybe Wall Street would have given him $ to go after the defunct airline's assets, maybe he would make a play on Air Tran or Spirit. No one knows, but it is highly unlikely Parker would have just sat back and let the events of the day destroy AWA without trying to take action.

Let's just assume US Airways did pull a rabbit out of the hat and survived. The BK plan was for the new standalone airline to be a domestic only airline with strong regional feed. At the time of the merger US Airways was still actively furloughing hundreds of pilots. Even if the airline survived with 200 or so mainline aircraft, most furloughed US Airways pilots would never have seen recall, let alone the left seat as the attrition didn't kick in for too long and wouldn't have been enough to offset the smaller 200 frame airline.

The merger gave US Airways pilots a new career expectation. The combined airline helped both sides, but it allowed Airways to survive. Since that time, the East pilots were able to use their muscle to decertify ALPA and take every bit of growth for themselves. There were no 330-200's on order at the time of the merger or mainline E190's. The TA called for equal sharing, but the East pilots would have none of that. When the East started getting E190's and the West MEC asked for a share of their seats, the East MEC said no and they could arbitrate. The West ended up with an IOU.

In the end it really doesn't matter who bought who because it was a merger. But it was a merger that allowed US Airways not to liquidate and for AWA to have a chance to add heft to its route network. It only went wrong when the East pilots decided that they deserved everything and took their ball and went home with their new so called union.

Really a sad chapter and no amount of justification can explain the righteousness of USAPA's existence.

R57 relay

My God man, I thought drug testing was industry wide.

I actually agree with a few of your points. The conventional wisdom was that US was going out of business. Just as it was for US and TWA for years. But, we didn't. Bruce Lakefield masterminded another strategy that Parker latched on to.

Let's review. And if you don't want to take my word for it, google the AWA 2004 10-K. AWA was an airline in the margins. Not a fully low cost point to point airline, not a hub airline able to generate higher yields. US Airways was airline hobbled together of a bunch of local service airlines, trying to make it in the big times. Neither airline had what what required to stay alive. PERIOD. AWA had no money to buy it's way into the future. US had lowered it's costs, but still needed help. The merger saved us BOTH. Period.

AWA lost money most of the time from 2001 on. They made a small profit in 2003, but it was like 30 million when the government gave them 80+million in assistance. It's all in the 10-Ks, go look. They weren't kicking ass and taking names as so many of you like to claim. When they did the merger they were losing money, had their asses kicked in the trancon market and needed money. They got that, with no money down,with the US merger.

There has been NO GROWTH! What is so hard to figure out about that? US had over 270 hulls on May 19, 2005. Today it is around 220, with 20 being E190s. Why is that so hard to understand?

You can claim what you want, but the AWA MEC wanted separate ratification of a JCBA before a SLI could be used. That is a fact, although you probably can't get a west guy to admit to it. The west thought it would be screwed in a SLI, and that the east would use it's majority to accept any old contract to make it so. That is a fact. It backfired. You should be asking your former leaders for answers.

Geeze, are you guys really that stupid?

cactiboss

How many pilots were turning wheels for usAirways in September of 2005? How many today? The rest of it is so ridiculously stupid distorted lies I won't even bother addressing.

R57 relay

About 2800 vs about 2900. Reply, you fing idot?

cactiboss

Liar, you had less than 2500 active pilots, you have 2995 + today.

R57 relay

You have to be one of the most idiotic west pilots still alive.

I have US Airways bid 05-03 right here on my computer.

September 2005-2701 active line pilots.

US east bid 14-06, November 2014-2989 active line pilots, of which 216 are on the E190.

****.

cactiboss

Liar! How is it usapa represented 5200 pilots? You know how many west pilots were working in September of 2005 you scumbag?

R57 relay

Damn. The first step is to stop digging you idiot.

I'm talking active pilots on the bid. I have it right in front of me, do you? Not my words, the actual bids from US Airways.

How do you find you way to the airplane by yourself? Scary.